Heat exchanger



Patented May 24, 1949 HEAT EXCHANGER Arthur J. Fausek and Irwing F. Fausek,

Clayton, Mo.

Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 559,889

This invention relates generally to heat exchangers, and more speciiically to heat exchangers of the type comprising a structure which includes a plurality of independent passageways through which pass fluid. gas, or other medium, whose temperatures are to be changed, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a heat exchanger of the type mentioned which is of extremely simple and relatively inexpensive construction and arrangement, and which is capable of performingits intended function in a highly efficient manner.

Fig. 1 is a view of the improved heat exchanger showing same partly in vertical elevation and partly in vertical section, certain conductors leading to and from the heat exchanger being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section showing a portion of the heat exchanger illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section which illustrates a different form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section which illustrates still another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, Vertical section which illustrates yet another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical section which illustrates an additional form of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, vertical section which illustrates a method of securing together certain parts of the improved heat exchanger structure in order to provide a spiral passageway which forms an important part of the structure.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical section which illustrates a part of the improved heat exchanger structure, as said part appears during a preliminary stage of the production of the heat exchanger structure.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for purposes of illustration, merely, several embodiments of the invention, A designates, in Figs. 1 and 2, the improved heat exchanger generally. The heat exchanger A comprises an outer, cylindrical housing I, within which is arranged an intermediate, tubular member 2. In its original form the intermediate tubular member 2 has formed 3 Claims. (Cl. 257-246) thereon, or xed thereto, outstanding fins or projections 3 which progress spirally about the tubular member, longitudinally thereof, as is shown in Fig. 8. An important feature of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is that the fins 3 are formed helically about the tubular portion of the intermediate member 2 in accordance with the formation of a double screwthread, a double screwthread being one in which the lead equals twice the pitch, or where two parallel threads are formed side by side. In the case of the intermediate tubular member 2 of the structure of the present invention, the iin structure is made up of a pair of spaced, parallel fins which progress helically about the tubular portion of said member, with the lead of said parallel fins equaling twice the pitch thereof.

The spa-ce between the parallel fins 3 of the intermediate tubular member 2 denes a helically extended charinelway 4' through which is wound a tube 5, this tube 5 being formed of material suiliciently pliable to permit of its being extended helically through the helical channelway 4 defined by the parallel iins 3, as is shown in Fig. 2. When the tube 5 has been extended through the helical channelway' 4 as described, the parallel fins 3 are bent in opposite directions about said tube so that said bent ns will embrace the tube 5, said fins 3 being of such width that their outer edges will meet outwardly of the tube 5 to provide a joint which extends substantially parallel with the axis of the helically extended tube 5. At the joint referred to, the edge portions of the parallel fins 3 are soldered, or otherwise secured together, as indicated at E in Fig. 2, to cause said shaped fins, and adjacent portions of the tubular portion of the intermediate member 2, to completely and closely embrace the tube 5.

The outer housing l of the heat exchanger A is of such diameter that when said outer housing is assembled with the intermediate tubular member 2, as is shown in Fig. 1, the inner face of the Wall of said outer housing contacts closely with outer portions of the curved helical wall provided by bending the ilns 3 of the intermediate member 2 about the tube 5, asvhas been previously explained. This arrangement provides a passageway l which progresses helically through the outer housing from end to end thereof, said helical passageway being defined by the various turns of the helical wall produced by bending the fins of the intermediate member 2 about the tube 5, by a helical portion of the outer face of the tubular part; of the intermediate member 2,

and by a helical portion of the inner face of the l of the outer housing I. Y Wa"ihe outer housing I is of less length than the intermediate member 2, as is shown in Fig. 1, and said outer housing is closed at its top and bottom by walls 8, these walls preferably being made in sections which are welded, or otherwise secured together, after being assembled in place, and said top and bottom walls being welded, or otherwise secured, to the top and bottom portions of the outer housing I. The outer housing I has associated with it an inlet conductor 9 and an outlet conductor I which are so located that they communicate with the lower and upper ends. respectively, of the helical passageway 1, extended through the outer housing. Also. the tube is provided with an inlet conductor I I and an outlet conductor I2, which are welded, or otherwise secured, to the bent fin structure of the inter-1'.

mediate member 2 and to the opposite ends of the tube 5 so that they communicate with said tube, said inlet and outlet conductors II and I2 being shown in Fig. 1 as being located, respectively, below and above the outer housing I.

Arranged within the tubular, intermediate member 2, and extended longitudinally therethrough, is a rod I3 about which is arranged a spiral element I4 whose outer edge contacts closely with the inner face of the wall of the tubular, intermediate member (Fig. 2). The spiral element may be formed integrally with the rod, or it may be suitably secured thereto, and said spiral element may be soldered, brazed, or otherwise secured, in place within the tubular portion of the intermediate member 2. The tubular, intermediate member 2 is provided at its lower end with an inlet conductor I5 and at its upper 'end with an outlet conductor I6, said intermediate member being provided with tapered lower andupper portions I1 and I8 which are secured to said member and to which said inlet and outlet I5 and I6 are respectively secured.

In the use of the improved heat exchanger A illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, one medium enters the heat exchanger by way of the inlet conductor I'I, passes through the tube 5, and is discharged from the heat exchanger by way of the outlet conductor I2. In like manner, another medium passes into the heat exchanger by way of the inlet conductor 9, moving through the passageway 1 and passing from the heat exchanger by way of the outlet conductor I0. Additionally, a third medium enters the heat exchanger by way of the inlet conductor I5, this last-mentioned medium moving through the spiral path provided by the spiral element I3 within the intermediate member 2, and being discharged from the heat exchanger by way of the outlet conductor I6. Thus it is apparent that the three mediums passing through the heat exchanger, follow tortuous paths therethrough, and interchange of temperatures of the mediums is accomplished within the heat exchanger during such passage of said mediums through the heat exchanger.

In Fig. 3 a structure is illustrated which differs from the structure of Figs. l and 2 by the fact that no outer housing is employed. In this form of the invention the intermediate member 2a is constructed and arranged just as is the intermediate member 2 of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, in that the ilns 3a ,of said intermediate member 2a are bent about a helically arranged tube 5a with edge portions of said fins soldered, or otherwise secured, together. In the structure of Fig. 3 a tube I9 is employed to provide a passageway for the medium which passes through the passageway 1 of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, this tube I9 being wound helically through the heli- .cal space provided between portions of the helically extended structure provided by the bent fnins 3a and the tube 5a embraced by said 'bent In Fig. 4 a form of the invention is illustrated which differs from the structures of Figs. l1 and 2 in that no tube such as the tube 5, is embraced by the bent fins 3b of the intermediate member 2b. Instead the bent and soldered fins 3b themselves provide a helical passageway through which a medium may pass during passage of said medium through the heat exchanger structure.

Fig. 5 illustrates a structure in accordance with which the iins 3c of the intermediate member 2c are not bent and soldered together at their edge portions, as in the structures previously described herein. Instead the iins 3c remain in their original unbent condition, and a helically extended strip of material 2I is soldered, or otherwise secured, to outer portions of the ns so as to provide tseparate helical passageways through which mediums may pass. In Fig. 5 the fins are formed in accordance with the formation of a triple screwthread, instead of in accordance with a double screwthread, as in the structures of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this way f separate passageways are provided through the which are extended helically about said elongated" heat exchanger structure of Fig. 5 for four mediums, these mediums passing,` respectively, through the helical passageways 22, 23. and 24, and through the spiral path provided by the rod I3c and the spiral element I'4c located within the intermediate, tu-bular member 2c.

Fig. 6 illustrates a form of the invention which provides a heat exchanger adapted for passage therethrough of only two mediums. This form of the invention comprises an outer housing 25 within', which a rod 26 is arranged longitudinally thereof, said rod having formed thereon spaced, helical fins 3d and said fins being formed on said rod in accordance with the formation of a double screwthread. The ns 3d are bent and are soldered, or otherwise secured together, at their edges to provide a helical passageway 21 for a medium passing through the heat exchanger structure, the other medium passing through a helical passageway 28 through the structure which is located between the helical bent-iin structure, and is defined by said bent-fin structure and by a portion of the inner face of the wall of the outer housing and a portion of the outer surface of the rod 26.

Fig. 7 illustrates a manner of securing together the edge portions of the iins 3e of the intermediate member 2e. The structure of Fig. 7 closely resembles the structure of Fig. 4, but instead oi soldering together the edge portions of the fins as in Fig. 4, the edge portions of the ns 3f of Fig. '7 are crimped together, as shown at 29 in Fig. '7, to provide a helical passageway 30 through the structure.

We claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a structure which includes an elongated tubular member. means providing a pair of adjacent passageways tubular'member at the outside thereof, inlet conductors leading to said passageways, and outlet conductors leading from said passageways, one

of said pair of adjacent passageways being produced by a pair of spaced ns formed on and extended helically about said elongated tubular member, said fins having portions which are bent toward each other and secured together to produce said helical passageway.

l2. A heat exchanger comprising a structure which includes an elongated tubular member, means providing a pair of adjacent passageways which are extended helically about said elongated tubular member at the outside thereof, inlet conductors leading to said passageways, outlet conductors leading from said passageways, one of said pair of adjacent passageways being produced by a pair of spaced dns formed on and extended helically about said elongated tubular member, said ns having portions which are bent toward each other and secured together to produce said helical passageway, and a helical tubular element arranged within the passageway produced by said ns.

3. A heat exchanger comprising a structure which includes an elongated tubular member, means providing a pair of adjacent passageways which are extended helically about said elongated tubular member at the outside thereof, inlet conductors leading to said passageways, outlet conductors leading from said passageways, helical means arranged Within said elongated tubular member for providing a helical passageway 6 therethrough, inlet and outlet conductors leading to and from the interior of said elongated tubular member, one of said pair of adjacent passageways being produced by a pair of spaced ns formed on and extended helically about said elongated tubular member, said ns having portions which are bent toward each other and secured together to produce' said helical passageway, and a helical tubular element arranged within the passageway produced by said fins.

ARTHUR J. FAUSEK.

IRWING F. FAUSEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,423,365 Smith July 18, 1922 1,673,918 Mauran June 19. 1928 1,854,619 Mortensen Apr. 19, 1932 2,065,429 Clapp Dec. 22, 1936 2,067,431 Albertson Jan. 12, 1937 2,190,288 Higham Feb. 13, 1940 2,231,295 Price Feb. 11, 1941 2,292,033 Atchison Aug. 4, 1942 2,320,502 Schullstrom June 1, 1943 

